Staying healthy and being in shape is not an unfamiliar concept in modern times. Everyone is more aware of physical health than they were in the past. And technology has made a remarkable contribution to this field.
There are multiple cardio machines available in the market. The treadmill and Elliptical are one of those.
Key Takeaways
- Treadmills provide a high-impact workout, while ellipticals offer low-impact exercise, reducing joint stress.
- Ellipticals engage upper and lower body muscles, whereas treadmills primarily focus on lower body muscles.
- Treadmills allow for more versatile workouts, such as running, jogging, or walking, while ellipticals offer a more consistent motion.
Treadmill vs Elliptical
The difference between treadmills and Elliptical is that they target different parts of the body. A treadmill is good for the lower part, while an Elliptical can be useful in both the upper and lower part of the body. Their structure is quite different and requires the user to operate it in certain ways.
The treadmill is used for running, jogging and walking while staying in the same place. There are two shafts attached to a running deck, rotating and parallel to each and a conveyor belt is stretched between them.
The conveyor belt moves backwards, pushing the runner forward. It is perfect for improving poor running habits.
The elliptical is more like cycling. Both the lower and upper parts of the body get engaged while working out with an elliptical.
There are two pedals attached to the floating links, known as a coupler. On the top part of the machine, two handles are given so the user can grab them.
Comparison Table
| Parameters Of Comparison | Treadmill | Elliptical |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | There’s a conveyor belt to push the the runner back and forth. The user is always standing on this machine. | There are handles and pedals attached to the elliptical. The user can also sit while working out on this machine. |
| Types | There are four types of treadmill : Manual, Hybrid treadmill, Medical treadmill and Electronic / motorized treadmill. They have their own | Elliptical comes in three types and those are : Rear drive, Front drive and Centre drive. All types can be used for various purposes. |
| Target | Treadmill is designed in a way that it affects the lower area of the body since it is a lot like running. | Elliptical is designed in a way that it affects the the both lower and upper areas of body. |
| Function | Treadmill is very easy to function. The user can control the pace, speed, and can even set timers. | There are not enough functions to operate when it comes to the elliptical since you’re using your body to push it. |
| Source of Power | Treadmills are motor-driven and they consume electricity in order to be operated by a user. | When it comes to an elliptical, the user has to use his legs in order to push the pedals. |
What is Treadmill?
The treadmill was invented by William Edward Staub and introduced to the world around the 1960s. This device is used in working out for walking, running and jogging while staying in the same place.
The best of this cardio machine is that it can be owned individually. It takes up very little space. The treadmill’s objective is to harness a person’s power to do work.
It consumes electricity, so the user does not have to power it. The user runs on it to reach a speed matching the conveyor belt.
Usually, treadmills are motor-driven, but one can also find a manual treadmill. Manual treadmills need to be pushed by the user’s feet. Modern treadmills follow the safety standards of IEC EN 957-1 and IEC EN 957-6.
Medical treadmills follow the MDD (Medical Device Directive).
Treadmills are the best cardio machine for indoor exercise. But these machines are not ideal for sports because they develop poor running habits, and a professional runner has to deal with the outside environment.
The automatically moving conveyor belt helps the user to go faster and easier while running outside, the runner has to face every single obstacle. Users can control mileage, pace, speed, and time when using a treadmill.
What is Elliptical?
Elliptical was introduced to the world in the 1990s by Larry Miller. These are Stationary exercise machines. Ellipticals are also used to walk, run, jog and even climb.
A person with small injuries can use it because it doesn’t force much pressure on joints. It is considered to be ‘slow-impact’.
A user can also move backwards and isolate hamstrings and glutens to target them. Beneath the pedal links, various pedal motion paths can be adjusted. By doing this, the user can change the angle of the elliptical path to vary the actuation of the hip.
Working out on elliptical targets the entire body. In elliptical, handle-levers are attached to each pedal link. It helps to transfer the burden to both the lower and upper parts of the body.
Ellipticals are not motor driven, and the user has to push the pedals. This attribute makes the elliptical not ideal for functional training. It is always uncertain how much it will take to complete a mile.
Because of its unique structure, it targets the muscles everywhere in the body. Elliptical is known to be a four-bar linkage because it uses the arrangements of links.
Main Difference Between Treadmill and Elliptical
- The treadmill helps the user to reach his goal while, on the other, the user has to pedal himself on an elliptical.
- Someone injured in the hip, knee or ankle should not work out with a treadmill, but he can use an elliptical because of its low impact.
- Both machines are useful for muscle building, especially muscles in the buttocks, thighs, upper arms etc.
- These exercise machines are the best when the weather outside is bad because both take up little space.
- When it comes to maintenance Treadmill is more expensive than the Elliptical because it needs electricity, lubrication of belts etc.
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/3146915
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007850607621581
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The historical background of both machines is quite intriguing and helps to understand their developments over time
The information provided about the structure and types of each machine is very detailed and informative
It’s interesting to note that treadmills are suitable for indoor exercise, whereas ellipticals can be more beneficial for those with small injuries due to their low-impact nature
The information about the source of power and the potential benefits of working out with both machines is very enlightening
The comparison table is a very useful tool to analyze the differences and advantages of both machines
The insights provided into how these machines affect different muscle groups and body parts are fascinating
The functioning and operation of both machines are clearly explained, making it easier to understand their differences
The comparison between treadmill and elliptical is very insightful and highlights the unique features of each machine